Permanent residence
Provincial nominee program or Quebec selection: which path fits where you will live?
Quebec has no provincial nominee program. How a nomination (600 CRS points) and Quebec selection each work, and the question that decides between them.
Many people in Montreal, especially English speakers weighing a move to Ontario or the West, ask the same question: should I go through a provincial nominee program or stay with Quebec's system? The first fact to know is on IRCC's own page: Quebec and Nunavut do not have provincial nominee programs. Quebec runs its own selection. Here is how each path works, based on IRCC pages checked on October 11, 2026.
How a provincial nomination works
A participating province or territory nominates people who meet its needs, through one of two processes:
- Express Entry stream: only if you qualify for both a provincial stream and a federal Express Entry program. Once nominated, you get 600 additional CRS points.
- Non-Express Entry (base) process: for people who qualify for a provincial stream but not for a federal Express Entry program.
The province tells you which process to follow, and a provincial nominee must settle in the province that nominated them.
How Quebec selection works
Quebec selects its own economic immigrants and issues a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ). You then apply to IRCC for permanent residence as a Quebec-selected skilled worker. The main doors are the PSTQ, through an expression of interest in Arrima, and the PEQ, temporarily reopened in 2026. See CSQ received: next steps with IRCC.
The deciding question: where will you live?
Express Entry programs require that you plan to live outside Quebec, and a nomination ties you to the nominating province. So the choice is less about which program is easier and more about where you actually intend to build your life. If it is Quebec, Quebec's programs are the route, and French matters. If you are genuinely ready to move, Express Entry and a provincial nomination may open up. Declaring a settlement plan you do not have is not a strategy; it puts the file at risk.
A quick comparison
| Provincial nominee (other provinces) | Quebec selection | |
|---|---|---|
| Who selects | The province or territory, then IRCC | Quebec (CSQ), then IRCC |
| Link to Express Entry | Possible (600 points) or separate process | None |
| Where you settle | The nominating province | Quebec |
For the score side, see how to improve your CRS score; for the Quebec side, Express Entry or Quebec selection.
Frequently asked questions
Does Quebec have a provincial nominee program?
No. IRCC states that Quebec and Nunavut do not offer provincial nominee programs. Quebec uses its own selection programs, such as the PSTQ.
How many points is a nomination worth?
600 CRS points when the nomination comes through an Express Entry-aligned stream.
Can I live in Montreal and be nominated by another province?
That depends on each province's criteria, and a nominee must settle in the nominating province. If you intend to stay in Quebec, it is not the right route.
Official sources
Official pages consulted on October 11, 2026:
More in this series
- Canadian permanent residence: start with where you will live
- Arrima explained: what happens after your PSTQ expression of interest
- Bridging open work permit: how to keep working while your permanent residence is processed
- Canadian Experience Class requirements: a checklist, and the Quebec rule
- Express Entry draws: how to read a round of invitations
- Express Entry invitation to apply: a practical 60-day plan
About this guide
Written for Visa Canada Rouge, a Montreal immigration consultancy led by Moadh Rahmaoui, Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC-IRB, licence R534941, listed on the public register of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants).
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Immigration requirements, fees and processing times change often: check them on the official websites (canada.ca, quebec.ca) when you apply. No outcome can be guaranteed.
Every file is different.
This guide covers the general rules. To find out what applies to you, talk to a regulated consultant.